Device for affixing postage-stamps to letters.



A. TEBBIT.

DEVICE FOR ABFIXING POSTAGE STAMPS TO LETTERS.

' APPLIOATION FILED MAY 4, 1908.

928,71 3. Patented July 20, 1909.

E m mill" 141W 7 7 B ATI'YS- zen of the United States,-residing at Medina,

ARBER TEBBIT, OF MEDINA; onio.

DEVICE FOR AFFIXING rosraeasrimrs romrmns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July; 2c, 1969 Application filed ma 4, moa- Serial No.- 430,6.

' To all whom it may concern: v t Be it known that I, ARBER TE BI'r; acitiin the county of Medina and State of Ohio, have myentedrcertain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Aiilxing Postage- Stamps to Letters, and do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to.

make and use the same.

' My invention relates to an improvement in devices for affixing postage stain s to-letters, and the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts substantially as shown and described and particularly pointed. out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device shown with certain of the parts in open position. Fig. 2 1s aside elevation of the rotatable cross shaped member or-body adaptedto carry the stamps excepting as to the pocket that is uppermost, which is shown as separated from.

said body and with its details apart one from the other to disclose their construction more clearly. Fig. 3 is a reducedplan View of the is a vertical cross section of Fig. 5-on line;

- s thus shown, the device is intended more particularly to be used as a medium for con taining'and aflixing postage-stamps to let ters, but is preferably so constructed as to be used also as a paper weight and for such associate purposes as may be found convenient l upon a desk or table. Essentially and primarily, however, the device is to be'considcred as ,a stamp containing and affixing mechanism, and as such comprises a suitable casing C, whether it be ofthe exact form and construction shown herein or of any otherforv the revolving member B, which carries the stamps. with four equal arms 2 radial as to its axial center and at right angles to each other suc- Th'e saidmember is provided cessively, and said arms havesubstantially as to afford a lifting movement to the stfim'ip carryingpockets P. w or over sald arms and are adapted to-s ide thereon within limits togaccommoda'te the same to the delivery of stampsto the envelop Said .pocketsifit u on as it is pressed down; upon :thetopfofthe pocket, the portion of the. letter; to be stamped having revi-ously been moistened by the wick -W; The construction ofzthe said pockets, so-called, isseen most clearly m Figs. 2, 3 and 4,'disclosing the detalls ofco-nstruction. Thus, the saidpocket =is: made preferably of-sheet metal of asize and shape in cross section corresponding to the size and shape of an ordinarystamp and has a central headed stem '7 rigidly sup yoke 8 from the sides of t 1e pocket andrigid therewith and adapted to enter the bore-4 and into the spiral springv 6 which bears against the head of said-stemandinsuch re lations thereto as to cause the said springsto lift the saidpocket toits limit normally, the, movement being about a quarterof aniinch, more orless, which also determines the-depth of the stamps that can be placed in the pockets- A flat plate 9 is aflixed towthe outer face 0t each-arm 2 on said rotatable head and'limits the outward movement of the stamp pocket under the pressure of spring 6 by reason of being over said stem 7 and-yoke. 8,'on said pocket. vThis outward position is the normal position of these parts, and depression of each pocket occurs only as it is brought into service to yield a stamp. Then there need be no more depression thereof than is sufii cicnt to bring the envelop into engaging re"- lation with the upper stamp, it-bein understood that the stamps are inverted With their adhesive side upward, and each pocket has narrow flanges 10 around three of. its edges which help to confine the stamp when the pocket is inverted but leave them free enough to make engagement with the envelop and to be drawn out aflixed thereto.

The four sides of each pocket are shaped to correspond to the four sides of the arms of rted by a wire or and sai the rotating member B, and which constitute uides for the pockets. Each pocket also as at least one inclined face portion 12 upon which I aflix a number corres onding to the denomination of the stamp, w atever it may be, such as 1, 2, 5 and the like, and any de-- nomination of stamp may of course be pocketed in this machine. The said member or head B is supported 011 a shaft S, with a suitable fin er grip or key 14 to rotate the same, (I head or member is' held in any given position to which it may be turned, preferably by friction. However, if a definite lock be required to hold it, one may be employed,

but mere friction serves every purpose, and after a given denomination of stamp has been turned to the top, the machine naturally holds that position until it is purposely rotated to another.

Now, in order that the machine may be complete as to all details, I provide a moistening tank 20 with a wickW therein in position to contact the corner of the envelop therewith where the stamp is to be applied, and a cover 22 for this tank and wick is pivoted at one edge between two side arms or bars 23, which are su ported at their rear or outer'ends on suita le supports from the main casing. The said cover 22 serves to press the envelop down upon the wick while I the envelop is being drawn forward over the wick, and when thus moistened and withdrawn the said cover drops down and forms one side of an angle for engaging the edge of the envelop while the other edge is engaged by outer edge or border plate 24. Thus the envelop is brought into exactly right position to aflix the stamp by putting its corner into this an le over the stamp pocket, and then as the a P, which is pivotally supported in and etween arms 23, is depressed by hand the m'oistenedsurface of the envelop picks up the to stamp fromthe pocket at the same time tiat a depression of the pocket is produced to make the arm beneath act as a lift for pressing the stamp firmly up against the envelop.

In the casing there is arranged a. shell 21 of band shape and which is firmly engaged between the sides of the casing and open only at its top. The armed body B is built to revolve closely within this shell and-has such close working en agement therewith as to frictionally hold the body in any position to which it may be turned. This,close circular fit between the said body and shell also confines the stamps in the pockets when turned down and there is no possible tendency for them to fall or work out. Specifically the outer edges and portions of the stamp pockets are circular and make the frictional engagement referred to, but they constitute an essential portion of the entire revolving member B.

What 1 claim is 1. A single casing and a circular rotatable member therein provided with spring pressed stamp pockets radially mounted on said memh er at rightangles to each other, in combination with a moistening wick in said casing and a hinged cover having an opening over said wick, and a pad hinged at one of its sides on a side projection on said casing and free on the other side from the casing, said pad adapted to swing into position on its hin e and press an envelop upon one of said poc ets and affix a stamp thereto.

2. A machine to affix postage stamps to letters comprising a depressible pocket for the stamps having inwardly extending flanges at its top overlapping corresponding ab y confine the stamps, a rotatable support on which said pocket ls slidably confined and a spring to press said pocket outward, in combination with a main casing, a pad and pivotally supported arms carrying said pad, one of said arms pivoted on said casing and the other arm free therefrom, a rotatable member mounted in the lower portions of said arms and means in said casing to moisten an envelop adapted to be covered by said mem- 3. A postage stamp affixin machine comprising a stamp pocket slida ly mounted in said machine and open at its top, a moistening device for an envelop next in advance of said pocket and a swinging cover therefor, and a pad to press the envelop on said pocket and cause the top stamp therein to adhere to the envelop, arms supporting'said pad and cover and an extension on one side of said machine on which one of said arms is pivotally supported the other arm beinglfree at its lower end and thereby providing room to insert and moisten an envelop.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

ARBER TEBBIT. WVitnesses:

H. L. FISHER, F. C. MUssUN.

ges of the stamps, and adapted to remov- 

